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US4587395A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Bonding leads to semiconductor devices

Assignee: Welding Institute England
•
Filing: 1983-12-06
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Granted: 1986-05-06
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Expires: 2003-12-06
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Abstract

Abstract In the bumped-tape automated bonding process for connecting leads to a semi-conductor circuit device, it is known to form the bumps on the free ends of the conductive leads of the tape by plating or etching. In the present invention, the free ends of the leads on the tape are heated by means of a laser beam to melt the ends of the leads so that surface tension forces form the liquid-phase end of each lead into a ball, constituting the bonding bump. The bumped ends of the leads of the tape are then bonded to terminals of the semiconductor device by conventional means.

Inventors

  • 👤 Peter J. Oakley
  • 👤 Norman R. Stockham
  • 👤 Heidi M. Miller

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 22:09
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/071; H10W72/077; B; B23; B23K; B23K20/00; B23K20/24; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/04; H05K13/046; H05K13/0465; H10W70/00; H10W70/01; H10W70/04; H10W70/40; H10W70/453; H10W72/701

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 127 words
A method of forming bumps on the free ends of the conductive flat leads of a tape for use in the bumped-tape automated bonding process of connecting leads to a semi-conductor circuit device, the method including: locating a focusing lens in the path of a beam from a laser; relatively positioning the focused laser beam and each lead in succession so that the surface of the lead is substantially at the focus of the laser beam; and subjecting each lead in turn to a single pulse of energy from the laser beam to melt the end of the lead so that surface tension forces form at the end of the lead a bump the width of which is not significantly larger than the width of the tape.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 127 words
A method of forming bumps on the free ends of the conductive flat leads of a tape for use in the bumped-tape automated bonding process of connecting leads to a semi-conductor circuit device, the method including: locating a focusing lens in the path of a beam from a laser; relatively positioning the focused laser beam and each lead in succession so that the surface of the lead is substantially at the focus of the laser beam; and subjecting each lead in turn to a single pulse of energy from the laser beam to melt the end of the lead so that surface tension forces form at the end of the lead a bump the width of which is not significantly larger than the width of the tape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, in which the laser used to provide the beam is a Nd/YAG laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 52 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, in which, with the beam and tape stationary relative to one another, a single pulse of the laser beam is directed at each lead, the beam and tape undergoing relative movement between pulses to cause the next pulse to be aimed at the next lead.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, in which the tape is moved continuously to bring the laser beam into alignment with each lead end in turn.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 4, in which the laser is pulsed for each such alignment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 36 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, in which the tape is stationary during the formation of a number of successive bumps, the laser beam being moved from lead end to lead end using reflective means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 128 words
A method of connecting flat leads to a semiconductor circuit device by the bumped-tape automated bonding process, the method including: locating a focusing lens in the path of a beam from a laser; relatively positioning the focused laser beam and each lead in succession so that the surface of the leads are successively placed substantially at the focus of the laser beam; subjecting each lead in turn to a single pulse of energy from the laser beam to melt the end of the lead so that surface tension forces form, at the end of the lead, a bump the width of which is not significantly larger than the width of the tape; and thereafter bonding the said bumps on the tape to terminals of the semiconductor circuit device.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 128 words
A method of connecting flat leads to a semiconductor circuit device by the bumped-tape automated bonding process, the method including: locating a focusing lens in the path of a beam from a laser; relatively positioning the focused laser beam and each lead in succession so that the surface of the leads are successively placed substantially at the focus of the laser beam; subjecting each lead in turn to a single pulse of energy from the laser beam to melt the end of the lead so that surface tension forces form, at the end of the lead, a bump the width of which is not significantly larger than the width of the tape; and thereafter bonding the said bumps on the tape to terminals of the semiconductor circuit device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method in accordance with claim 7, in which the laser used to provide the beam is a Nd/YAG laser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 52 words
A method in accordance with claim 7, in which, with the beam and tape stationary relative to one another, a single pulse of the laser beam is directed at each lead, the beam and tape undergoing relative movement between pulses to cause the next pulse to be aimed at the next lead.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method in accordance with claim 7, in which the tape is moved continuously to bring the laser beam into alignment with each lead end in turn.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 10, in which the laser is pulsed for each such alignment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 36 words
A method in accordance with claim 7, in which the tape is stationary during the formation of a number of successive bumps, the laser beam being moved from lead end to lead end using reflective means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3614832A Cited
US3718968A Cited
US4256948A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-05-05 1989-11-04 1990-05-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-05-05 1993-11-04 1994-05-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-05-05 1997-11-04 1998-05-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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